Nanocoating PLA Fibers with ZnO quantum dots (ZnOQDs) and ZnOQDs/RGO by Layer-by-Layer for potential Self cleaning application.
ZnO Quantum dots, lactic polyacid, textile fibers, nanotechnology, photocatalytic, Effluents.
With the 4th industrial revolution approaching, using nanotechnology tools as a means to obtain materials with greater functionality and performance has shown that nanoscience is fundamental in the solution and technological innovation. This was evident when several studies used ZnO nanoparticles as the main photocatalyst in processes of degradation of organic compounds in industrial effluents. However, its disposal in suspension in the effluent, linked to the size and shape, raises the cost of application and, above all, brings with it a risk to living beings and the environment. An alternative focuses on the technique of coating nanostructures on textile knitting fabric where it allows application more safely, without losing efficiency and property. Based on this assumption, this work developed a nanocoat with zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnOQD) that was applied on fabric in lactic polyacid knitting (PLA) via LBL (Layer-by-Layer) and submitted it to the process of photocatalysis in water contaminated with Rhodamine B dye. Thus, results obtained by analysis of XRD and HRTEM coupled with SAED, reveal that the synthesis allowed a controllable process of solution quantum dots of ZnO with polycrystalline structure of the Wurtzite type with particle sizes of 8 nm. In addition, XRD, XPS and SEM / FEG micrographs demonstrate the deposition of ZnOQD on the surface of PLA fibers. The photocatalytic activity of the cationic dye Rhodamine B degraded 85% of the dye with the ability to reuse up to 6 cycles.